Adaptation

In this times, when Hollywood movies seem to be adapted from a tv show, a book, a magazine, a graphic novel or… another movie; I wonder how these people behind camera, who adapt ideas and turn them into a film work.

Let's start saying adaptation is not easy. And adapting comics has been hard work to scriptwriters, whom commonly, are verbally attacked by fans complains, alleging that screen versions are distant from what they expected.  Novels taken to cinema are not different from those. From that point, both authors and screenwriters explain that their art forms are different. And neither a book or a comic are the same than a movie. And there some reason there. The tree representations aren't the same. And the bring to the audience distinct elements, translated in different intensities for those who receive them.

A narrative book may be the art form that encourages the reader's imagination the most, according to his or her mental universe. It permits to create worlds between the writer's skill and the reader's capacity of appreciation.

On the other hand, comic is a visual abstraction; somehow the middle point between a painting or photograph and kinetic. It shows fixed images but simulating movement. They generally found the most success when they bring striking colors and depth. It's not a coincidence many of our favorite superheroes wear primary colors: Red, yellow or blue.

Finally, films do not need to abstract moments, on the contrary, it must show and intensify them when required. Here the use of color and lighting becomes complex. Depth has another context and takes allow a variety of choices and perspectives that neither literature or comic books offer. In contrast, it has the disadvantages of timing, because it has an average time period of two hours to develop a story that a spectator must understand in. An adaptation that maybe someone read in weeks or, talking about comics, years.

Not an easy job…

… But also, not impossible. There are several successful stories about adaptation. First comes to mind is 300. Based on Battle of Thermopylae, Frank Miller wrote an outstanding graphic novel enhancing the historical facts that happened there, and show them with impressive aesthetics. Then, director Zack Snyder took to cinema with huge success.

Another movie, related to this matter in a different way, is Adaptation, a 2002 movie written by Charlie Kaufman; who narrates the intricate job of a scriptwriter taking a bestseller to the big screen.  Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep  and Chris Cooper.

Then, there is the accomplishment of Chris Nolan, who brought Batman to the next level and recently, Matthew Vaughn with the prequel X-Men: First Class, a movie that I will write about next time.

_______

So, now tell me: What adaptation from book, comic or graphic novel that has been taken to the movies it's your favorite? Someone say The Godfather?

*Spanish Version: This post was translated from my blog Séptimo Sentido: Del libro al cómic, del cómic al cine